Defining Your Characters: 150+ Character Mannerisms

Part of the magic of great fiction is its ability to let you see their characters in your mind’s eye. Think about Sherlock Holmes and you might picture him smoking a pipe, or stroking his chin in thought. Or Anne Shirley from Anne of the Green Gables, who might at any moment be gesturing enthusiastically and talking a mile a minute.

Much of this ability to conjure actors in this theatre of the mind comes from one simple trick in the book of character development: character mannerisms. A well-observed tic or recurring behavior can unlock your characters and bring them to life in your audience’s imagination.

If you’re wondering how to start going about it, you’ve come to the right spot on the Internet. We’ve split this post into three parts: what character mannerisms exactly are, how to write them into your story, and a list of 150+ mannerisms for you in case you're running short on inspiration.

What are character mannerisms?

A mannerism is a gesture, speech pattern, or way of conduct that is characteristic of an individual. These “micro-behaviors” might range from an everyday movement (i.e. clearing the throat) to a very specific tic (i.e. biting nails when nervous). In literature, writers use mannerisms to help enhance physical descriptions and put characters in motion on the page. Consider it another tool in your writer’s toolbox when it comes to character development and depiction.

Character mannerisms are one way in which writers can show, not tell. (This is an old writing adage — if you’d to learn more about it, go here for a complete guide). Here’s an example of the difference it might make:

Telling: “Why did you just stab me with a toothpick?” cried Matt, surprised.

However, it’s important not to overdo it and bring up a certain quirk time and time again. Let’s talk a bit about some best practices that may be helpful when it comes to writing character mannerisms into a story.

How to write mannerisms in a story

Pro-tip: Don’t tell a reader that your character is stroking his mustache every four pages. Here’s how to make your character’s mannerisms slot seamlessly into a story.

Make the movement fit

Most importantly, a mannerism has to make sense in the context of the story. When you’re thinking about your character’s idiosyncrasy, consider:

The personality of the character;

The environment of the scene; and

The era in which the stoty takes place.

How does a character’s background impact the way that they move? How might the era and setting influence their actions? An Iranian man, for instance, wouldn’t use the thumbs-up gesture anywhere in the world — unless he wanted to insult someone. Then there’s the hero from the 19th-century, who would fiddle with his pocket watch, as men didn’t start regularly wearing wristwatches until the early 20th century.

If you get it right, a character’s mannerisms can speak volumes. J.K. Rowling, for example, employed mannerisms to great effect with Newt Scamander from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. He hunches, tilts his head down, and goes out of his way to avoid eye contact — conveying to the audience that he’s shy, awkward, and non-threatening. Meanwhile, Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean sways even when he’s standing, stumbles over nothing, and slurs: in other words, he’s a drunk pirate, through and through.

(image: Disney)

Make it add to the story, not distract

Don’t tack on an odd behavior just to up your daily word count. Mannerisms should add to your story — not distract from it. You must be able to justify why you’re writing them into a given scene: whether it’s to reveal character, break up long sequences of dialogue, or advance the conflict.

Most of all, nobody wants to read about a common physical movement, flip the page, and then read about it again. You’ll risk tiring or annoying your audience — not to mention that the forward thrust of your story will suffer as it’s bogged down by irrelevant descriptions of gestures.

So if you notice a character twirling their hair in each chapter, it’s probably time to hit the “Find” button and re-think it. As the adage probably goes, “Everything in moderation — including mannerisms.”

Don’t get too cliché

How often do you really wring your hands? Or stroke your chin when you’re deep in thought? Some mannerisms are generally overused in fiction. To go about it realistically, make sure that you don’t rely too much on these cliché gestures and movements.

To think beyond the box, consider how you unconsciously act in certain situations. Yes, this might be tough, which is why we’ve also come up with a resource to help you out.

The Ultimate List of 150+ Character Mannerisms

If you’re struggling to come up with mannerisms for your character, here are over 150 to give you a headstart.

Speech mannerisms

Or: how do your characters talk? What tics do they show in conversation or during a presentation?

Interactive mannerisms

Or: how does your character interact with their surroundings and external objects?

Taking glasses off and cleaning them

Peering over glasses

Adjusting or pushing up glasses

Putting earpiece of glasses in mouth

Has a cigarette perpetually dangling out of mouth

Buttoning and unbuttoning coat with no purpose

Always sitting on the very edge of chair

Hands habitually on coat lapels

Chewing the tip of a pen or pencil

Jingling money in pockets

Playing with the marker

Tugging at pants before sitting

Tearing at a napkin at the table

Checking watch repeatedly

Using a toothpick at all times

Touching up makeup constantly

Repeatedly checking cell phone

Twirling a pencil at a desk

Clicking a ballpoint pen open and close

Playing with a Rubix Cube when bored

Fiddling with earrings

Shredding paper without thinking

Peeling labels from bottles

Bending paperclips in half

Twisting the rings on fingers

Tipping chair back

Leaning against the wall while talking

Tugging at collar of shirt when nervous

Smacking gum

Mannerisms are here to help

Ultimately, character mannerisms are only a small part of the bigger picture of character development. They should help reveal who your character is and that in and of itself will take some more work on your part. To understand your character on a deeper level, you can go here to download a free character profile template. Or if you’d like some character development exercises, here are eight of the best ones that you can use.

So whatever mannerisms you choose in the end, remember that it should tie into your character’s personality, background, and upbringing. If you follow that route, you won’t stray far from reaching your ultimate goal: the creation of a memorable character.

What memorable mannerisms and tics should be added to this list? Let us know in the comments below

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